JAMA

BROMER, RALPH S.

doi: 10.1001/jama.1942.02830390001001pmid: N/A

Three methods of examination of the heart are available to the roentgenologist, namely, fluoroscopy, teleoradiography and orthodiagraphy. Teleoradiography utilizes film exposures at a distance, usually 2 meters, to insure almost parallel rays with the least possible distortion of the cardiac image; orthodiagraphy employs parallel rays in the fluoroscope, and fluoroscopy needs no definition. To these should be added the specialized method of examination by the use of the kymograph, which may be defined as an apparatus consisting of a moving film in contact with a stationary grid having horizontal or vertical slits to permit detailed analysis of cardiac pulsations. Changes in the amplitude and character of pulsations of the various parts of the heart and great vessels can thus be determined, which may be of importance in the diagnosis of pathologic processes involving the heart. The first three methods, or certainly two of them—teleoradiography and fluoroscopy— are available to every

KANTOR, JOHN L.

doi: 10.1001/jama.1942.02830390004002pmid: N/A

DIGESTIVE DISEASE IN PEACE The role played by digestive disease in military service has always been important. In our peacetime army this is clearly evident from the accurate statistics set forth in the Annual Reports of the Surgeon General. The latest available report,1 issued June 30, 1941, covers the calendar year 1940 and is typical of the experience of the past decade. Diseases of the digestive system ranked third as a cause for admission to sick report, the rate being 137 per thousand strength (chart 1); they ranked fourth as a cause of death, the rate being 0.20 per thousand strength (chart 2), causing 27 per cent of all deaths from disease; they ranked fifth as a cause of discharge for disability, the rate being 1.09 per thousand (chart 3); they ranked third as a cause of loss of time, the average daily noneffective rate per thousand strength being

SELLING, LOWELL S.

doi: 10.1001/jama.1942.02830390011003pmid: N/A

The annual loss of life as the result of war casualties during the year of blitz in England was scarcely more than the equivalent loss of life in traffic in that country. Here in the United States the situation still remains serious in spite of rationing, voluntary limitation of the use of cars and the removal of a certain number of drivers from the civilian community. There is a clarion call which has already been recognized by the ophthalmologist that everybody in the community should take part in a continuous crusade for the prevention of traffic injury and death. Through the subcommittee of the Section on Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association, standards have been set up which have been absorbed into the field of the examination of the driver. Many individual members of the section must have been called on to express an opinion about visual acuity standards in

POTH, EDGAR J.

doi: 10.1001/jama.1942.02830390015004pmid: N/A

The ideal intestinal antiseptic should be poorly absorbed from the alimentary canal and should have strong antibacterial local action. A compound, succinylsulfathiazole.1 which has properties approximating these specifications, has been synthesized by Moore and Miller.2 The experimental determination of the value of succinylsulfathiazole as an intestinal antiseptic and its early clinical use were described by Poth, Knotts, Lee, Inui, Chenoweth and Welch, Mattis and Latven.3 The drug has been used for about one year and has been given to approximately 250 patients in this clinic. These cases have been studied closely for evidences of hemocytologic changes and accumulation of the drug in the blood. The total quantity of drug excreted in the urine was determined in the majority of these cases, and the alteration of the intestinal flora was assayed by quantitative bacteriologic study. Within one to seven days of the institution of sulfasuxidine therapy the feces

LEMERE, FREDERICK; VOEGTLIN, WALTER L.; BROZ, WILLIAM R.; O'HOLLAREN, PAUL; TUPPER, WARREN E.

doi: 10.1001/jama.1942.02830390019005pmid: N/A

There is no disease in the whole field of medicine that brings as much grief to the patient and his family as alcoholism. Judging from the literature1 the usual therapy, including amphetamine, vitamins, sedation, hospitalization and psychotherapy, is wofully inadequate. The only reliable report of the results of treatment in the entire medical literature shows not more than 15 per cent of 124 patients still abstinent at the end of eighteen months.2 Some alcoholic addicts are cured by religion3 and a few undoubtedly cure themselves. Our observations indicate that the therapy to be described in this paper is definitely superior to any previously used for the treatment of alcoholism. ETIOLOGY OF ALCOHOLISM The uninitiated think of alcoholism simply as a weakness of will power. The psychiatrist thinks of excessive drinking as a neurosis, but the usual treatment for neurosis is seldom effective. Aside from being somewhat temperamental,

MILLER, MICHAEL M.

doi: 10.1001/jama.1942.02830390021006pmid: N/A

The treatment of chronic alcoholism has long been regarded as unsatisfactory. As far as can be determined from the literature, therapeutic measures have heretofore embraced only certain phases of the problem and there has been no adequate unified approach toward the various problems confronted in treatment. Some of the principal attempts that have been made in dealing with this disorder are the socioreligious approach of the Alcoholics Anonymous, psychoanalytic treatment, the conditioned reflex technic, the religious appeal to will power and faith and the punitive approach of the courts as well as the many attempts to use medication in the treatment of this disease by the medical profession. Abstinent groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, recognize the great value of engaging the alcoholic addict actively in the social activities of a nondrinking environment and of offering him more constructive ways of employing his vocational ability and leisure time, using mutual understanding

LEVINE, MILTON; STATE, DAVID

doi: 10.1001/jama.1942.02830390025007pmid: N/A

The use of plasma and serum in the treatment of shock has become widespread, since it offers advantages over whole blood in that both plasma and serum are more easily stored, transported and administered. Many workers1 have stated that plasma, in reasonable quantities (arbitrarily set at 500 cc. or less) may be administered safely regardless of the blood group. They have reasoned that the isoantibodies in the transfused fluid would be diluted by the recipient's blood beyond the point at which it would agglutinate the recipient's cells. On the other hand, others2 have emphasized the role of these same antibodies in causing transfusion reactions and have urged that either compatible plasmas be used or pooling be employed to decrease the titer of the antibodies. Despite the theoretical possibility that isoantibodies may cause reactions, there is no sound experimental evidence indicating that this is true for plasma. What evidence

IRWIN, C. E.

doi: 10.1001/jama.1942.02830390027008pmid: N/A

The presence or absence of structural changes in the tibial condyles serves to differentiate the two types of genu recurvatum. The presence of structural changes in one type1 and the complete absence of these changes in the other can be explained by the variation in the underlying causative factors. The mechanism by which each type develops is determined by these different underlying causes. HYPEREXTENSION CHARACTERIZED BY SKELETAL CHANGES The chief underlying causative factor in the first group is the lack of sufficient power in the quadriceps group to lock the knee in extension against resistance. In a typical case the hamstrings have a normal rating, are not stretched out and may even be short. The calf group is normal, usually contracted and stronger than normal. A short achilles tendon develops and the calf becomes overdeveloped because, of necessity, the metatarsal heads are brought in contact with the floor when

Glaubach, Nathan; Guller, E. J.

doi: 10.1001/jama.1942.82830390001009pmid: N/A

History.— G. L. C., a white man, admitted to the hospital on May 6, 1942, complained of pain in the back. The onset of this illness occurred two weeks prior to admission with generalized aches and pains over the entire body and a feeling of malaise and weakness. Eight days prior to admission a pain developed in his back. Four days prior to admission he concurrently had a severe cough and pain on the left side of the chest. The cough was productive of a white, frothy phlegm. At no time was blood noticed in the sputum. The patient was nauseated and vomited a great deal. The pain in the left side of the chest became more severe and was aggravated by coughing. The patient gave a history of the usual childhood diseases, influenza and pneumonia while in the Army and a history of nervous attacks during which he

Goodman, Henry L.

doi: 10.1001/jama.1942.82830390002009apmid: N/A

All tactors considered, the ultimate result of good surgical technic is measured by the extent of the res oration of function. Among the factors responsible for such a result is the accurate and adequate apposition of tissues to promote proper healing. The problem of suturing technic has, therefore, always been of paramount importance to the surgeon. The introduction of new surgical suturing instruments has generally been the result of the requirements of a new surgical technic. It is equally true, however, that the introduction of new instruments has introduced a better technic. During the past fifty years approximately one hundred and twenty-three new suturing devices have been described in the literature. This in itself is an indication of the interest which the surgical profession has shown in the technic of suturing. Very few of these instruments are in use today. The present instrument collectively offers many advantages possessed individually by